4. Inventory of Existing Activities (Private, Local, State, Federal)
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DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 4. Inventory of Existing Activities (Private, Local, State, Federal) 4.1. Existing Legal Protection Protected Areas Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Established in 1975, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (HCNRA) encompasses 652,488 acres, of which 194,132 acres are designated as wilderness and 33,000 are privately owned (USDA1999; Figure 31). HRNCA is administered as part of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Eagle Cap Wilderness Area A very small portion of the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area is in this subbasin. Research Natural Areas Research natural areas are natural ecosystems that provide benchmarks for comparison with areas influenced by humans. These areas provide research areas for ecological studies and preserve gene pools for threatened and endangered plants and animals. Seven areas are proposed for designation as Research Natural Areas in the Lower Middle Snake subbasin (Figure 31). These areas were selected to represent particular plant associations, geological formations, or other needs outlined in state natural heritage plans. According to the Forest Plan “Proposed RNAs will be protected from uses which would reduce their suitability for RNA designation”. Since their designation no logging has occurred in the proposed RNAs. Once officially established, an RNA management plan will be written and integrated into the Forest Plan (USDA 1999). 5/25/2004 - 152 - DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Figure 31. Areas in the Lower Middle Snake subbasin that are managed and/or protected using a conservation-based strategy. The Oregon Side LMS is outlined in red. 5/25/2004 - 153 - DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 4.2. Existing Plans  US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management The U.S. Forest Service is required to manage habitat to maintain viable populations of anadromous fish and other native and desirable non-native vertebrate species. A Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) was developed for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (USDA 1990). This Forest Plan guides all natural resource management activities, establishes forest-wide multiple-use goals and objectives, and establishes management standards and guidelines for the Wallowa Whitman National Forest. The forest plan is currently under revision. The Bureau of Land Management, in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, is required to manage public lands to protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values. A Resource Management Plan was developed for the Vale District Office, Baker Resource Area (USDI 1989). Both the USFS and BLM are required by the Clean Water Act to ensure that activities on administered lands comply with requirements concerning the discharge or run-off of pollutants. In the Columbia River Basin, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management manage salmonid habitat under the direction of PACFISH (USDA and USDI 1994) and INFISH (Inland Native Fish Strategy; USDA 1995). These interim management strategies aim to protect areas that contribute to salmonid recovery and improve riparian habitat and water quality throughout the Basin, including the Oregon Side LMS subbasin. These strategies have also facilitated the ability of the federal land managers to meet requirements of the ESA and avoid jeopardy. PACFISH guidelines are used in areas east of the Cascade Crest for anadromous fish. INFISH is for the protection of habitat and populations of listed resident fishes outside anadromous fish habitat. The Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project (ICBEMP) is a regional-scale land-use plan that covers 63 million acres of federal lands in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana http://www.icbemp.gov/. The Bureau of Land Management is developing the Northeastern Oregon Assembled Land Exchange (NOALE) for the retention, exchange, and disposal of public land (USDI 1998). The goal of the exchange is to enable the BLM to more effectively meet ecosystem management objectives, to consolidate BLM managed lands for more effective and efficient resource protection, enhancement, and use; and to ensure that retained lands have sufficient public benefit to merit the costs of management (Land Exchange Act).  US Fish and Wildlife Service The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for resident fish and wildlife. This act provides for the development of Recovery Plans and directs enforcement of federal protection laws. The USFWS also administers the Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan (LSRCP) authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1976 (Public Law 94- 587). The goal of the LSRCP is to mitigate and compensate for fish and wildlife resource losses caused by construction and operation of the four lower Snake River dams and navigation lock projects (FWS 1998). 5/25/2004 - 154 - DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT  NOAA Fisheries The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administers the ESA as it pertains to anadromous fish only. NOAA Fisheries has jurisdiction over actions pertaining to Snake River spring and fall Chinook salmon and Snake River Basin Steelhead where they occur in the subbasin.  Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for implementing and administering the Clean Water Act (CWA). Accelerated and strengthened efforts to achieve clean water and aquatic habitats was the intent of the Clean Water Initiative (1998), the core of which is the Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP), a federal partnership to promote and enhance locally based watershed improvements (the Unified Federal Policy for Ensuring a Watershed Approach to Federal Land and Resource Management). Restoration strategies called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) are being developed for the Columbia River mainstem and tributaries (including the Oregon Side LMS subbasin), based on court orders and negotiated agreements through CWA litigation. EPA serves an oversight and advisory role in development of TMDLs.  Senate Bill 1010 Senate Bill 1010 gives the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) management authority to develop Water Quality Management plans for agricultural lands where such actions are required by state or federal law, such as TMDL requirements. The Water Quality Management Plan should be crafted in such a way to assist landowners in the local area in prevention and control of water pollution resulting from agricultural activities.  Oregon Plan Passed into law in 1997 by Executive Order, the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (http://www.oregon-plan.org/) and the Steelhead Supplement to the Oregon Plan outlines a statewide approach to ESA concerns based on watershed restoration and ecosystem management to protect and improve salmon and steelhead habitat in Oregon.  Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for protecting and enhancing Oregon fish and wildlife and their habitats for present and future generations. Management of the fish and wildlife and their habitats in the Oregon Side LMS subbasin is guided by ODFW policies and federal and state legislation. Direction for ODFW fish and wildlife management and habitat protection is based on the amendments and statutes passed by the Oregon Legislature. For example, Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 635 Division 07 – Fish Management and Hatchery Operation sets forth policies on general fish management goals, the Natural Production Policy, the Wild Fish Management Policy, and other fish management policies and OAR 635 Division 008 – Department of Wildlife Lands sets forth management goals for each State Wildlife Area. Another pertinent ODFW policy is the Oregon Guidelines for Timing of In-Water Work to Protect Fish and Wildlife Resources (ODFW 1997b). In addition to the OAR’s, ODFW has developed a variety of species-specific management plans. http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ • Mule Deer Management Plan (2003) • Elk Management Plan (2003) • Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goat Management Plan (2003) • Cougar Management Plan (1993) • Black Bear Management Plan (1987) • Migratory Game Bird Program Strategic Management Plan (1993) • Oregon Wildlife Diversity Plan (1999) • Oregon’s Trout Plan 5/25/2004 - 155 - DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT • Warmwater Fish Plan • Comprehensive Plan for Production and Management of Oregon’s Anadromous Salmon and Trout, Part III: Steelhead Plan • Native Fish Conservation Policy  Oregon Department of Agriculture The Department of Agriculture has developed the Oregon Noxious Weed Strategic Plan to assist in controlling the spread of noxious weeds on public and private land.  Oregon Department of Forestry The Oregon Department of Forestry enforces the Oregon Forest Practices Act (OAR 629-Division 600 to 680 and ORS 527) regulating commercial timber production and harvest on state and private lands. The OFPA contains guidelines to protect fish bearing streams during logging and other forest management activities, which address stream buffers, riparian management, and road maintenance.  County Governments County Commissioners have established Comprehensive Plans for land use within each county in Oregon. The Plan is designed to establish certain regulatory control over specific activities to 1) ensure open space, 2) protect scenic, historic, and natural resources for future generations, and 3) promote healthy and visually attractive environments in